Ryan Strachan reckons Balmoor Stadium will be bursting at the seams for the historic visit of newco Gers on the opening day of the Third Division season.

Ryan Strachan reckons Balmoor Stadium will be bursting at the seams for the historic visit of newco Gers on the opening day of the Third Division season.

The former Celtic youngster admits the Ibrox side will be hot favourites to lift the title after being plunged into Scottish football’s basement.

But he warned Ally McCoist’s side not to expect it all their own way – because Jim McInally’s Blue Toon are aiming to go all the way.

The 21-year-old midfielder said: “The fact that we are down to play Rangers should bring in a big crowd.

“Peterhead is a bit of a Rangers stronghold, our ground holds 4000 and I expect it will be full because history will be made.

“It gives our own players the chance to see where we stand and see if we can compete with them for the title.

“We will be playing a new Rangers and everyone will be waiting to find out what kind of team they have after losing so many star men.

“Playing them four times in the league this season will be a tremendous experience.

“But we will not be fooled by the fact this will not be the Rangers side of old. They will probably still be favourites to go up. They are full-time, they are Rangers and will still have a good few players who were there last season.

“One thing is sure, McCoist will want to get Rangers back into the SPL as quickly as possible and that will mean winning successive championships.

“We’re looking forward to playing them. It’s not every day you get the chance to play a team with the great tradition of Rangers.

“I don’t think their players have a point to prove. It was not the players who got Rangers into this situation. It was the previous owners.

“Rangers have played before under a lot of pressure, so will be ready for the challenge ahead of them.

“I’ve played them a few times. My first club was Aberdeen and I was a season and a half at Celtic.

“They will still be strong. At the same time, our aim at the start of the season is to get first place and it still is.

“Now Rangers are in our league there will probably be less pressure on everyone’s shoulders.”

AGAINST

Paul Jarvie last night labelled the decision to send Rangers into the Third Division as the “wrong call” – then insisted the other clubs would be playing for the runners-up slot.

The Peterhead keeper is now gearing up to face the Ibrox club on the first day of the new season at Balmoor Stadium.

But Jarvie said: “It’s all a bit false. I can’t help but see a huge imbalance developing in our league, so in my view it’s the wrong decision.

“We were seriously looking to win the league this season but that prospect has now realistically gone.

“Now the best-case scenario from our point of view is a play-off position before a ball is even kicked which sends out all the wrong signals.

“I feel a bit deflated by it all. We’re looking at a situation like we had a few years ago when Gretna romped their way through the divisions and Rangers look like doing the same.

“Okay, they have lost a lot of players and will be much changed from seasons gone by but when it boils down you’d still expect them to win the Third Division.”

Jarvie is a Celtic fan but believes the First Division would have been the best way to resolve the long-running saga.

He added: “Even as lifelong Celtic fan, I have to say it would have been better putting them in the First.

“I know some Celtic fans were wanting them in the Third but I didn’t go along with that thinking.

“If they were to go to the First, it would have been a lot harder for them to gain promotion at the first attempt and there would have been a more level playing field.”

Jarvie knows new-look Rangers won’t relish visiting Balmoor and reckons they will find it hard to celebrate victories once the season is under way.

He added: “Will they actually celebrate winning games in the new season?

“How does a club and its supporters go from the highs of Old Firm games and involvement in the European arena to playing in front of a few hundred fans?

“We’ll give it our best shot on the opening day but you’d have to say we’re all playing for second spot.”